It pays to bid aggressively when vulnerable — the rewards are worth it. But that is only if you have the skill to manage difficult contracts.

Since North’s two-club response created a game force, as is the modern style, South could rebid two spades in comfort. After North showed support, South took a shot at slam in the hope of finding a slightly more suitable dummy.

West led the king of hearts, taken by declarer with the ace. The first problem was the trump suit, and cashing the ace and king of trumps revealed that matters were desperate. Saddled with a trump loser, declarer had to avoid losing a heart and a club for the slam to succeed. But even if the club suit could be brought in without loss, that was only half the battle.

After long thought declarer found the way. Since two hearts would have to be discarded before West could ruff with the queen and cash the queen of hearts, that defender would have to hold four clubs. To protect against the possibility of East holding the singleton queen or ten, declarer next led the nine of clubs to the king.

When only low clubs appeared, declarer returned to hand with the ace of diamonds and led the eight of clubs. West was a dead duck. If the defender followed low, declarer would run the eight as the only chance, then repeat the finesse. If West covered, declarer would win in dummy as cheaply as possible, return to hand with a diamond ruff and take another club finesse to land the slam. Try it.

2013 Tribune Media Services

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